SOME Vulcanizers in Enugu State say repair of all kinds of tyres are booming in the state. They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in separate interviews on Tuesday that they make between N20,000 and N25,000 per week.

The vulcanizers said the monies come from repair of tubeless tyres, tubes, realms, changing of old tyres to new and gauging of deflated tyres.

The Vice-Chairman of the Vulcanizers’ Association, Mr Friday Ayegbemi, at Presidential Road, Enugu, said that the work was lucrative.

Ayegbemi explained that vulcanizers earn more money in patching tyres of articulate vehicles than those of smaller vehicles

He told NAN that to patch a Mercedez Benz 608 mini-lorry or buses tyres cost N600 per hole, while those of trailer tankers cost N1,300 per patch.

The artisan told NAN that those of cars, tricycles and mini-buses whether tubeless or tubes cost N300 per patch, while gauging and pumping of tyres cost N50 per tyre.

“In this vulcanizing business, I have been able to buy a plot of land and I am married with children.

“I have been in this job in the past 16 years and makes about N20,000 daily, especially on the days I vulcanize big tyres,” he said.

He said before now he was making about N8,000 to N12,000 a week because he had no equipment for big tyres.

Ayegbeni advised upcoming vulcanizers that the secret of the job was patience, good site and good public relations.

Mr Sunday Oko, plying the artisanal trade at Amokwe Junction in Uwani, corroborated Ayegbeni’s views that vulcanizing business was lucrative.

Oko added that he could make N15, 000 on weekly basis because he worked more on tricycles’ tyres and that of bicycles’, saying that his workshop was within the tricycle riders’ park.

According to him, patching a tricycle tyre goes for N200 or N250 and for mini-bus tyres and every other vehicle is between N300 and N350.

However, Mr Sopuluchi Anya, at Uwani, said that the business was not a fast business venture especially during rainy season.

Anya pointed out that with good character, customers could call them from anywhere within the town to come to their aid whenever they had problems with their tyres.

“I leave my workshop at least twice a week on distress calls from my customers and I charge N1,000 for such bailout calls.

“Though, it was not easy initially because of the hazardous nature of the job, as at then I could only make N2,000 to N4,000 a day,” he said.

Mr Uche Obi in Achara Layout said that the only challenge facing the business was multiple taxes especially from the Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA).

Obi appealed to the agency to reduce the levy from N1,500 to N500 annually adding that they feed their families from the job.

“We do not have shops and for that, ESWAMA is not supposed to collect such amount of money from us, they should allow us to pay N500 annually instead of N1, 500,” he said.

Obi said that he made between N15,000 to N18,000 on weekly basis as against his earning of N9,000 to N12,000 in 2016.

He attributed the boom to the rehabilitation of the bad roads in his area which made motorists to ply through his workshop. (NAN)

– Mar. 6, 2018 @ 16:05 GMT |